England U21 1-0 Argentina U21

Aston Villa's Lee Hendrie scored a slick goal and cleared two off the line as England's Under 21 side beat their Argentinian counterparts 1-0.

West Ham midfielder Frank Lampard provided a slide rule through ball which Hendrie nicked over the advancing Caballero with just over twenty minutes remaining.

Argentina's D'Alessandro - dubbed the new Maradona - was the shining light in an otherwise stale affair.

Especially as England's rising star Joe Cole was left on the bench by manager Howard Wilkinson, although he made a second-half substitute's appearance for Leeds United's Lee Bowyer.

Bowyer had a clear cut chance to open the scoring in the first half after charging down the ball and finiding himself in space, but his poor trickled well wide.

Striker Francis Jeffers poor run of luck continued as he was stretchered off after just eight minutes with a twisted ankle.

He was replaced by Leeds striker Alan Smith.

Debutant Lee Naylor looked impressive down the left flank while Luke Chadwick provided several good-looking crosses from the right.

Wimbledon striker Carl Cort found himself on the end of one of them but was unable to direct his snap shot.

England had to withstand several surging Argentinian counter-attacks as the game wore on - Nicky Weaver making a fine reaction save just after the hour.

The visitors were looking far more likely to take the lead when Lampard's 67th minute pass split open their defence for Hendrie to clip home.

A minute later Hendrie kept his side ahead when he rose to make a headed goal-line clearance from an Argentinian corner.

Meanwhile in Dublin, the Republic of Ireland's Under 21 side lost 2-1 to the Czech Republic.

Luton striker Gary Doherty put the Republic ahead but Thomas Dosek and Milan Baros hit back.

Teams:

England U21: Weaver, Mills (Young 46), Carragher, Woodgate, Naylor (Johnson 69), Chadwick, Bowyer (Cole 46), Lampard, Hendrie, Cort, Jeffers (Smith 9), Smith (Harley 81).
Subs Not Used: Robinson, Curtis.
Booked: Lampard.
Goals: Hendrie 69.

Argentina U21: Caballero, Grabinski (Garipe 88), Arca, Pauttasso, Veron, Burdisso, Guidi (Herrera 75), Rivero, Ovolo (Santana 81), D'Alessandro, Dominguez (Rodiguez 46).
Subs Not Used: Orion.
Booked: Arca, Veron.
Att: 15,748
Ref: H Fandel (Germany).